This is a beautiful and ambitious coffee table book that looks at the culture and history of cigars in the world. The publisher describes it as "more than just a reference book-- it's a travelogue, an anthology, a photographic monograph, and a historical narrative rolled into one." That is a pretty accurate statement as the book strives to be comprehensive. It covers a lot of ground. From history to the agriculture to the luxury culture of cigars, the book presents a lot of material.

The book is pretty well written. For me, the best parts are the stories about the entrepreneurs, rogues, and workers who took tobacco and turned it into the luxury item enjoyed by celebrities and common folk alike. Some of the more technical information in the book can be a little dense. Overall, this is a book to read a bit at a time, take your time with it much like you would with a cigar.

(My full review with reading notes will be available on my blog.)

As an occasional Cigar enjoyer, this book was a pleasure to read. I was too young to partake in the Cigar Boom of the 90's, but witnessed it first hand through my father, and found this book to touch on nostalgia while being informational. I can remember the excitement around the "Opus-X" and can see the backstory of its social relevance, and so many other moments in cigar history. The author did an excellent job of touching on many different topics and individuals, while keeping it relatively easy to read. I thoroughly enjoyed learning more of the history of the brands that we know and love (huge Drew Estate fan here). The photography was amazing, and is a very appreciated addition for immersion in the book.

Would highly recommend to someone looking for some history and perspective on the Cigar industry, and would buy the coffee table book as a gift for any connoisseur that I know. Thank you to the author and publisher for the opportunity to read this and give my unbiased opinion.

I loved this book and can't wait to order for my bar. I will also be gifting to all my cigar-loving friends and adding to their libraries. I give it a high five-star review.